Weather tightness problems in metal roofing
What is weather tightness?
Weathertightness primarily refers to a roofing or outside surface’s capacity to withstand weather factors (like rain and snow) and its ability to keep moisture from penetrating the structure beneath. Making sure your roofing system is weathertight helps you avoid costly and time-consuming moisture-related problems such as leaks, decay, and more.
Common Weathertightness Issues and Solutions
Signs of discolouration from leaks inside the home is one of the easiest ways to determine if you have a weathertightness issue with your metal roofing system. If you discover any leakage or water stains on your interior roof, it’s time to take action. These metal roof problems can be caused by any of the following:
Improper fastening during installation
With every metal roof (concealed or corrugated), fasteners are one of the main components. To keep moisture from penetrating your panels and allowing your metal roof to last the projected lifespan, it’s important to ensure fasteners are fitted properly. Weathertightness problems start to arise when fasters are overdriven, underdriven, or driven in at an incorrect angle.
- Overdriving a fastener can cause extra stress on metal panels, shred screws, and expose them to water.
- Underdriving your fasteners makes it easier for water and even wind to get below the metal panels.
- When you drive your fasteners into the panels at an angle rather than a vertical, straight angle, moisture can seep underneath.
Incorrectly using sealants
Another vital component of a metal roofing system is sealant, which is designed to protect your structure against weathertightness problems. It stops moisture from entering small areas, crevices, and your entire system. Sealant helps make a roof as weathertight as possible and serves as an extra line of defense against water leaking into your structure.
During metal roof installation, if your sealant is not properly adhered to your roof decking and panels, you could face some weathertightness issues. It is necessary to make sure that your system is correctly sealed to avoid these potentially dangerous and costly problems.
Improper installation of vents, skylights, and other roofing features
If certain elements of your roof (like vents, skylights, chimneys, and other penetrations) are not properly installed, weathertightness problems may surface. To avoid weathertightness issues, these sections must be properly sealed and capable of diverting water away.
It’s also important to take the thermal movement of panels into consideration around these features. Metal will slightly shift when it expands and contracts in response to temperature changes. When these expansions and contractions occur, there are accessories and installation methods to follow to guarantee that moisture or water does not leak into your roofing system.